Software Process and Measurement Cast

SPaMCAST 500 features our interview with Marcus Blankenship.  Marcus and I talked teams and what makes a team good. We also discussed who owns the behaviors and values of a team. Team are core to most software development, enhancements, and maintenance. Understanding how teams work and how to make them work better makes ABSOLUTE sense.  Marcus provides great thoughts and advice on agile teams. I am thrilled that Marcus joined the SPaMCAST family on show 500!

SPaMCAST 499 will feature our essay on trust and coaching. Coaches are among most effective tools used to help teams improve. In SPaMCAST 496 – Sam Laing I highlighted the need for trust. Second is Wolfram Müller. Wolfram co-authored Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance, The TameFlow Approach with Steve Tendon.  We talk about Reliable Scrum and Reliable Kanban. Anchoring the cast is the Software Sensei, Kim Pries.  Kim discusses software safety.

SPaMCAST 498 features our interview John Kordyback.  Agile is more than just Scrum or a bunch of values. Agile has a technical side that can’t be ignored. This week, John and I have a wide-ranging conversation covering the technical side of agile, the impact of tools on principles, and the difference in agile approaches for systems of engagement and systems of record.

SPaMCAST 497 features our essay on micromanagement.  Micromanagement is a bane to employees that fall under a micromanager’s control. The problem is that many managers still do it and then rationalize the behavior. We also welcome back Dr. Susan Parente, with her “Not a Scrumdamentalist” column.  In this installment, Susan discusses using hybrid agile methods to deliver value. Gene Hughson brings the cast home discussing his essay, Getting a handle on IT costs by eliminating chargebacks?  

SPaMCAST 496 features our interview with Sam Laing.  Sam and I talked about coaching agile teams. The goal of coaching is to help people unleash their inner power.  We also touch on the difference between coaching and mentoring. They are different and require different approaches but both are useful!

SPaMCAST 495 features our essay titled, The Definition of Done: Simplicity and Complexity Revisited. While the concept is simple, the implementation of the technique in the real world is rarely simple. Both context and interpretations make things just a bit gray! Second, Jon M Quigley’s column, The Alpha and Omega of Product Development. In this installment, Jon and I discussed Muda and innovation. Kim Pries, the Software Sensei, contributes his essay Kanban to the Kanban Power.  

SPaMCAST 494 features our interview with Alan Mallory.  We discussed his book The Family That Conquered Everest (https://amzn.to/2Iiz3Tc).  The book provides strong lessons on leadership and teamwork in an environment where failure can lead to death or worse!  Danger, mountaineering, and leadership in a single interview; a first for the Software Process and Measurement Cast.

SPaMCAST 493 features our essay titled Thoughts on Kaizen. The punchline is that the goal of continuous improvement is to help teams to eliminate waste. Our second column features Jeremy Berriault.  In this installment of the QA Corner (https://qacorner.blog/).  Jeremy and I talked about his upcoming appearance at QAI Quest. Anchoring the cast is  Wolfram Müller. Wolfram co-authored Hyper-Productive Knowledge Work Performance with Steve Tendon.  We talk about Chapter 22.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 492 features our recent interview with Murali Chemuturi.  Murali and I discussed his new book tilted Software Design: A Comprehensive Guide to Software Development Projects (Link https://amzn.to/2qMAgKW).  Murali makes a strong case that design can’t be purely emergent.  Design impacts usability, security, and data architecture to name just a few areas. Practical advice and strong opinions.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 491 features our essay titled, Can “Done” Be Allowed To Break Production?  The most succinct answer to the question is always no, the story is not done. The reason is that the story is not implementable. Susan Parente brings her Not a Scrumdamentalist column to the cast this week.  Susan discusses Kanban for You and Me. Kim Pries, the Software Sensi, anchors the cast this week.  Kim’s essay is titled Real Software Quality.  In this column.

Software Process and Measurement Cast 490 features a return visit from Michael West.  Michael West is the author of Return On Process (ROP): Getting Real Performance Results from Process Improvement and Real Process Improvement Using the CMMI! Michael and I talked about process improvement and how process improvement translates to the bottom line.  Mr. West originally appeared on the SPaMCAST 308 [https://bit.ly/2ITlKsf]

SPaMCAST 489 features our essay titled, Lean: The Science and Art of a Gemba Walk Deciding on the purpose and scope of a Gemba walk is part science and part art. Our second column features Jon M Quigley who brings his Alpha and Omega of Product Development to the cast.  In this segment, we discuss agile development. Gene Hughson of Form Follows Function anchors the cast.  He discusses his great article, There is no right way (though there are plenty of wrong ones) (https://bit.ly/2EsNqlj)

SPaMCAST 488 features our interview with Prem Ranganath. Prem and I discussed why organizations need to focus on innovation and excellence.  The topic might sound trite; however, making innovation and excellence happen is hard. Prem provides examples and advice from the real world.

SPaMCAST opens with our essay, Don’t Shortcut Shu Ha Ri. Recently I have been thinking about just how rigorously practitioners need to follow processes, methods, and frameworks, and when it makes sense to tweak processes to fit the culture. Our second column will introduce a new column from Susan Parente titled, “I Am Not A Scrumdamentalist.”   Our final column in the SPaMCAST 487 features the Software Sensi, Kim Pries.  In this column, Kim talks about what works and does not work.

SPaMCAST 486 features our interview with Daniel S. Vacanti.  Mr. Vacanti is the author of Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction.  We discussed the concepts in the book, answered a question from Steven Adams, and talked about his new book.  It was great to talk about a book with the author after the re-read.